St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-12
WHAT THEY. WISH.
Views of Leading Professional Men
Touching the New Court House
Question.
Decided Sentiment in Favor Of New
Building Nearer the Business
Center.
The Limits Seem to Be Hennep1n
and Fourth Avenues South and
Sixth street.
A Majority Favor the Union Of City
and County Governments In
One Building.

with renewed interest the subject OF new
court house. A few DAYS ago the GLOBE
gave an exposition of the cramped insult
Gcient and out Of the way quarters at the
corner Of Eighth avenue and Tenth street
south. since which time the commissioners
have vaguely discussed the matter OF new
court house in keeping with the growth OF
the city. and the real estate and legal fra
ternitieS have quite generally canVassed IL.
II is said there are several members of the
county board who will oppose any change
of location. for the reason that the new
K of l.. temple will be across the street.
There are also many lawyers and real es-
tate men who prefer the present location.
but by far the majority Of those whose
pursuits call them to the court house
favor a location much nearer the business
center of the city. The exact spot matters
but little, though the Washington school
property is the choice of many for various
reasons That half block is said to be
worth $50 000 For that amount three
new school buildings. ground and all. may
be secured. The matter of joining the
city and county governments in one build
ing is quite popular with many, their idea
beng to erect building that will eclipse
anything i'll the West, and will serve for
the next quarter century. GLOBE re-
porters yesterday picked up a number OF
opinions touching the union OF city and
county, and the best location for new
court house. They are appended:
County Auditor Condit--A combined court
house and city hall has its advantages and
its disadvantages. Tue best location for
court house would be, in my opinion, right
where the present one now stands; the next
place would be where the high school build
g,,,r rig, nth
Deputy Register of Deeds Plummer-Have
not considered the subject of Il combined
court house and city hall, but can see no rea-
son why it would not be a good plan. The
colrt house should certainly be located up
town further. About where the Washing ton
school building now stands, on the corner OF
Fourth street and Third avenue sodth would
be good place 1t takes too much time to
come clear down here.
George NJ. Robinson-Strikes me 1t would
be pretty good scheme. Have not consid-
cred the location.
Judge Won Schlegel-Am decidedly opposed
to combining the court house and city hall,
as both are large enough now, or soon will
be- to have separate quarters. We certainly
ought to have new court house, and
should think the Washington school site
would be good one. Anyway, it should be
centrally located.
Clerk Of Probate Scott-Think it would be
CITY hall combined. The court house GER
tainlY should be somewhere inside of Fifth
street and First avenue north and Second
avenue south.
Deputy Clerk of Courts Tirrell-A combined
court house and city hall would cause more
or less confusion. The present location Of
the court house strikes Inc as about right,
Clerk of Courts Davenport think that for
million and half we could put up a build
ing large enough to accommodate both city
and county, and one that we would be proud
of. We don't want d little building on a half
block; it should cover & block at least. In
justice TO South Minneapolis. which is rapidly
stretching towards Fort Smelling, l think the
court house should be located south of Mic
ollet, at least as far south as the Washington
school, which would be Il splendid location.
In selecting the commission. care should be
taken to get good practical men. Don't put
man on because he has money, but because
he is possessed of good, sound, common
sense.
NJ. P. Brewer-Have not given the subject
much thought, but it seems to work well
wherever it has been tried. and for that rea-
son should think it would be a good thing
AS to the location, it should be built south of
Hennepin avenue.
W. H. Donahue-I am very favorably i'm
pressed with the scheme of a combined court
house and city hall, and tn nix it should be
located on the other half of the court house
block or on the Stewart property, on the cor
ner OF First avenue south and Fourth street.
Thomas Canty-The city and county ought
to exchange the present court house site for
the Washington school site. and condemn the
balance OF the block, that on which the
school is situated. and build q combined
court and city hall fer city and county pur-
poses. and use the present court house site
for Schoo. purposes.
City Attorney Cross-The county ard CITY
should combine and build a joint building by
all means, and in justice TO South Minneapo-
lis ii should not be located further north than
NicOllet avenue.
Ed A. Stevens-Have no objection 10 the
proposition, AMI no ak TO grind as tn the
location. You and might agree on location,
but real estate ring will control it in the
end as they did the poStofice. 1t will be time
enough, however. to provide better quarters
for officials, when the city shall have secured
somewhat decent quarters for lookup. A
place wherein innocent persons charged
with crime can be confined pending examina-
ton, without contracting loathsome and dam
gerous diseases, is of far more pressing i'm
portance than a court house, and but few
thousand dollars are needed therefor. NV
motto is thousands for humanity, before
millions to beat st. Paul" If the thing is
done L nope "non-partiZan" commission will
spend the money and absorb It,
James H Ege-I think that the whole block
where the court house now stands should be
the first place, the jail is here now, and they
wont need any more jail for the next twenty
five years. Do not believe the city and
county offices should be in the same build
Ing, ms it would cause confusion. 1t is fool
fsh to talk of having the court house way I'D
on Nicollet avenue. Where would farmers
coming in to do business tie their horses if
the building was located up town. The fight
for a charge is being made by the LAWYERS
and, as for them. most of them do all their
htrc lNr- Nn1n
keep one OF the deputy sheritfs busy answer.
ing it.
Eugene Wilson, think that combined
court house and city hall will be the outcome
IN the end as it should be, and the parties in
terested should at once begin looking around
for a suitable location.
A. n. Jordan--l believe in combining CITY
hall and court house. If the price to be paid
will be as great rs two suitable buildings
would cost. The corner of Fourth street aud
First avenue south is the best location and
has Away been my choice
j. H. Rolfe-I favor the union and saw the
Stewart block for locating every time
a. T.. Lorlng-IeS. join the city and coun ty
government III building and put II up south
OF Nicollot. where the largest population is.
c. 4. Plllsbury-I have thought the block
occupied by the Washington school nj Third
avenue. between Fourth and Fifth streets tn
be the very best location, especially as q
bridge at Third avenue must eventually
come. The present location of the court
house was a compromise with the South
Minneapolis, and is ali they got. The Stewart
property wopid cost too much and Hennepin
is too far north. AS to this commission
named, presume it means Hennepin ave.
nue., but George A. Pilsbury was put on
there to represent the minority. He would
favor more southern location.
George A. Brackett-Ihe present court
house is too far south, and the location should
be south of Nicollet
J. V. McFugh-rhe Gale or johnson cor
ners, ut Fourth street and First avenue is
the best location. but the Washington school
would do.